GAMBLE 1969.

A MAN AND A NURSE AND A GAMBLE IN 1969

Old boy Charman
stopped me outside
the upstairs lounge
where the old folks
were having their
morning slumber.

Could you put
a bet on for me?
he said.

Sure
I said.

He gave me
a piece of paper
with horse names
times
and how much
each way.

I gazed at it
he gave me
some money.

I'll do it later
I said.

He nodded
he was a fragile
framed men of 96
who'd fought
in the Boer War.

His wife
who was asleep
in the lounge was 94
and had dementia.

He went back in
the lounge and I
went down the stairs
to carry on
with other tasks.

I recalled him
asking me once
do you gamble?

Only on life
I had replied.

Life's a gamble
with no real winners
he had said
and named
and number
old friends
who were dead.